People's Democracy

KARNATAKA

Farmers Organise Huge Rally

HUNDREDS of farmers on November 13, 2007 took out a rally in Bangalore highlighting their problems and the hardship they were facing owing to the political uncertainty in the state.

The farmers under the aegis of Karnataka Prantha Raita Sangha (KPRS) took out the rally from City railway station. Farmers from 19 districts, including Gulbarga, Bidar, Kolar, Mysore and Dakshina Kannada participated in the rally. The rally concluded at Banappa Park, where a public meeting was held.

Speaking on the occasion, general secretary of All India Kisan Sabha, K Varadarajan said the political parties were wrangling among themselves and continuing the political uncertainty in the state. The parties were not concerned about the problems of farmers and people resulting from the uncertainty, he said.

G G Byyareddy, general secretary of KPRS, said the relief works in the flood affected areas of Shimoga, Bidar and Raichur have come to a standstill following the recent political developments. Farmers continue to be neglected and they were not getting agricultural loans. The government has failed to prevent suicides of farmers. Farmers expressed their dissatisfaction over non-disbursal of waste lands and non-declaration of support price for chilli, tomato and other vegetables. The protestors decided to give a memorandum to governor Rameshwar Thakur November 14, 2007. Bagepalli MLA, Srirama Reddy also spoke in the public meeting.